Fab labs are a global network of local labs that provide access to tools for digital fabrication

Fab labs are a global network of local labs available to the community, that enable invention and learning by providing access to tools for digital fabrication. These citizen digital fabrication workshops, born in Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), are founded on a spirit of community knowledge sharing.  As the movement grows we are beginning to ponder the real potential they hold to contribute to the vitality of our cities. It is a revival of craftmanship and a reappropriation of the industrial era in digital times.

Three organisations in Québec, Communautique, FabLabs Québec et la Conférence régionale des élus de Montréal came together as co-promotors of a living lab process to explore the possibilities and advantages of FabLabs – a process baptised as  « Imaginons Nos FabLabs »

OUR ROLE

Percolab providing coaching for the process including the emergence of the core question to guide the process, coaching of the team on the ground, idea generation and process design for the citizen participation activities and meaning making from the multiple experiences. The residence was nomadic and included public places in Montréal, Longueuil and Laval : parks, library, museum and a commercial street.  Each day included a participatory workshop as a way to delve into different aspects of the question.

To find out more about the process, consult the web site.